- We all only have one liver that works hard for us in our bodies, and it is very important to know how best to look after it. The liver is the largest solid organ in our bodies, performing many jobs, of which the most important is keeping our blood clean.
It is the liver that removes all the nasty toxins from your blood. And when you eat, it is the liver that will process all the good stuff for the rest of the body to use.
If you allow harmful stuff into your body, it is the liver that will try and break it down, trying to keep your system clean. Don’t ‘mess’ with your liver.
- The liver also helps with blood clotting, which is when you have a wound.
- The liver also breaks down pain medications that you take for a headache for example and breaks it up so your body can use it to make the pain go away.
Can you see why the liver needs to be nurtured and loved for all what it can do for you? Because when the liver is not well, you are going to feel pretty grim yourself.
Unfortunately, many people cause damage to their livers and that can be a real catastrophe! You will experience nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. These symptoms can often have a number of causes and it might be hard to tell if it is the liver that is failing.
If it is the liver, the symptoms are going to get much more serious. Damage to the liver can be caused by a person being overweight or from drinking too much alcohol. All this abuse is often taken by the liver, but in the end, it will be just like an elastic band – it will stretch just so far, and then snap!
Liver disease is on the increase too, affecting many people in all age groups – a silent killer, with a few symptoms to show for it, until it is too late.
Other reasons why you get liver disease
The liver truly plays a major role in the body, just about any digestive, hormonal, metabolic, or immune disorder can impact on the liver. Your lifestyle can either make or break your liver health. Look at other things that can give you liver disease:
- Alcohol (including caffeine)
- Fatty liver diseases which are non-alcohol related
- Viral hepatitis
- Chemically sprayed crops
- Eating a lot of packaged foods that contain refined oils and plenty of sugar
- Prescription medication such as antibiotic use
- Unprotected sex and drug use
- Low-quality animal products
- Hormonal imbalances and stress levels
- Environmental toxin exposures and air pollution
- The use of chemical household and beauty products
What are 12 signs to look out for that your liver is damaged?
- Your skin color changes due to metabolic dysfunction. Even the eyes are noted to take on a yellow tinge.
- You have abdominal pain: because the liver capsule stretches because of the glands enlarging.
- The skin itches because toxins irritate the cells causing hypersensitivity.
- Chronic tiredness because there is tissue deterioration which causes low energy and lethargy.
- Indigestion when the liver loses its ability to produce bile.
- Loss of appetite always is accompanied by poor liver function.
- Pale colored stools.
- Acid reflux.
- Diarrhea.
- Fluid retention.
- General malaise and sleepiness.
- Swelling in the legs and ankles
In ancient Chinese medicine, it has been said that “the physician who knows how to harmonize the liver knows how to treat a hundred diseases.”
Let’s look at what happens to you when the liver becomes healthy again
- Increased energy levels
- Clearer skin
- Reduced PMS and a more regular menstrual cycle
- Freedom from sinus pain
- Stronger immunity with fewer infections
- Less digestive complaints and more regularity
- Fresh breath and oral health
- A positive mood and a sharp mind
Want to get your liver right?
1. Eat an anti-inflammatory diet
That means cutting out sugar because an influx of sugar from foods like refined grains, sugary snacks, and sweetened drinks all put pressure on the liver to convert and store glucose. Keep things balanced by eating real, whole, organic foods including unrefined sources of carbohydrates, veggies, fruits, and healthy fats.
Check out some top anti-inflammatory foods for good liver function:
- Sour foods with probiotics in them like kombucha, kefir, and cultured vegetables. Include bitter green vegetables like mustard greens, dandelion, chicory, arugula, etc. which are all loaded with nutrients and probiotics.
- Leafy greens all nourish the liver, along with potassium, which is tied to liver health. Cruciferous veggies and grasses like chlorella, barley or wheat grass all hold a form of chlorophyll which is built into plant cells that helps remove damaging substances from the liver.
- Fresh herbs including turmeric, coriander, cilantro, parsley, and oregano are great to boost glutathione production and lower inflammation. Turmeric contains curcumin which is a compound helpful in restoring healthy blood pressure, improving circulation and fighting toxin buildup.
Other herbs balance the body’s pH level and increase digestive enzymes. Raw garlic is also great, considered a powerful antimicrobial agent that lowers inflammation in the liver whilst increasing circulation and healthy blood flow. - Milk thistle is a true liver tonic, supporting liver health and even helping those with alcoholic liver disease, and those with acute and chronic hepatitis, as well as liver disease associated with toxins. It can also protect the liver from liver scarring.
- Holy basil protects the liver from bacteria, some fungus strains and also heavy metals which can harm the liver.
- Dandelion root has fantastic diuretic properties to enhance the liver’s ability to help the body get rid toxins, and strengthening the immune system, alleviating indigestion too.
- Anti-oxidant fruits like berries and melons provide electrolyte minerals needed by the liver, including calcium, magnesium, and potassium.
- Local raw honey: Choose raw honey, the kind that’s not heated or refined. Honey is a natural antimicrobial, antibacterial, and antifungal product.
It helps lower liver inflammation and eliminates bacteria, parasites, and viral infections. It also nourishes and improves the digestive tract, liver and gut health. - Drink green tea because it contains super antioxidants which can reduce liver inflammation and lower the effects of oxidative stress on the digestive organs.
- Coconut oil, with its antifungal, antimicrobial and antiviral properties helps the liver detox, reduces cravings for unhealthy foods and supports energy levels.
- Apple cider vinegar contains beneficial enzymes and antioxidants, nourishing the liver and helping cleanse the body.
2. Benefit from these liver-boosting supplements:
- Selenium is a trace mineral with plenty of antioxidants, protecting the liver cells from getting damaged.
- Alpha-lipoic acid is an antioxidant which bolsters the liver to detoxify the body.
- Artichoke contains a substance called cynarin, which helps the liver to produce bile that speeds up the movements of waste and food.
- B-complex vitamin supplements can improve nutritional deficiencies that can often develop when you have liver disease.
A severe vitamin B-1 deficiency can cause mental confusion, memory problems, poor coordination, as well as ocular nerve paralysis; vitamin B-1 can reverse them.
A vitamin B-6 deficiency can cause tingling and numbness from nerve damage. Vitamin B-12 and folate deficiencies can cause anemia. - Vitamin A works so well with iron to solve iron deficiency problems.
- Vitamin D is noted to a majorly deficient in those people who suffer from chronic liver disease.
What does forgiving others have to do with the liver?
A damaged liver can block healthy emotional flow and can produce frustration and cause anger.
Research shows that poor liver function is often tied to psychological and physical symptoms which include brain fog, fullness feeling, rib pain, dizziness, cramping, headaches, joint or tendon problems, blurry vision, menstrual problems, and digestive disorders.
They all help to create a vicious cycle because the more stress you suffer from, the more your liver tends to dysfunction. It’s so important to let go of all that built up anger, forgiving others - keeping all the positive energies moving means avoiding conflict and stress.
Let the love flow, literally, and watch how you heal, not only your liver but other parts of your body too!
